The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1887-03-09
ALL BUT"

"Good-by, dear Mary. hate to have
you 60. It's like going into another
world, so far away. Tell John | never
shall be satisfied till he settles East |
never have quite forgiven him for NOV
ing to California.
''Oh mother when he's doing so well.
didn't want to go, but he did not get
on here; small salary. and no prospect
of better, and the children comingl
''Wcll, well, it was natural, and YOU
can't feel it as | do, being younger; but
you want to see the children somel'
81 guess l dol"
"And by that you may guess how l
want to see YOU"
And the old lady wiped her eyes. She
was a stout woman. IN n plaid flannel
dustcloak and poke bonnet The cloak
was odd and conspicuous, but Mrs. Wat
rous did not care for that, she wanted
something soft to cover her dress, some
thing that she could shake out of tenn
porary crcases, and keep on the hat-rack
for daily use; that cloak covered her
morning dress when she went out for
daily supplies, and hid the worn sleeves
and frayed waist of her old black silk
when she took shopping tour, or drive
with some kindly friend; for Mr.. Wat
rous did not keep horse. 1t was use
full garment and her husband ALWAYS
called it "Charity," because he SAID It
covered multitude of sins in his wife's
dress
Mary Watrous, the only child of this
respectable couple, had married eight
years ago the teller in the bank where
her father had been cashier for many
A fire I-1,
content with his position; but after his
three boys were born he began to reflect
on the future, and having good oiier
from cousin of his in San Francisco.
successful merchant there, he put his
small patrimony of five thousand dollars
into Sam Duttons business, and now
Dutton ~ Co. were making money
steadily. This was the first time Mary
had been home to see her parents after a
three years absence, and she had a new
grandchild to exhibit-plump, rosy lit
tie Molly. The three boys were left at
home with their father, under the
nurses charge; Mary thinking that she
could take care of Molly. better than
John could look after the boys without
Katy's help.
Mr.. Watrous had gone to get the bag
gage checked, and Mrs. Watrous stood
by the car, which waited on the track to
be coupled to the express train just
whistling in the distance; train that
made no stop in the next hundred miles.
AS Mrs. Watrous wiped the tears from
her kind eyes, Mary held up Molly to
the window to comfort the mothers
heart with that lovely baby face set in
yellow curls, lit by soft hazel eyes, Just
like her mothers, and sparkling with
dimples.
"By, dauma" she shouted, kissing
her fat hand, and smiling She was de.
lighted to go, for she liked to ride.-for
time.
Grandma looked up with her heart in
her eyes.
by"
'HullO, Molly" put in Grandpa's crisp
voice
'.Good-by, danpaw baby responded,
with another kiss.
Here are your checks, Mary. Good
by, again, dear. Mother, arc you ready
! to go2 must be at the bank"
"oh no! must stay and see the last
"Be careful, then, old lady. Don't
get on to the track, or knocked down by
the train. Counted your checks, MaryQ'"
"les, father. Good-by."
And OIL trotted Mr. WatTous, quite as
grieved to part with his "girl" as he still
called her, as his wife felt; but, man
like, unwilling or unable to express it.
Just behind the car, perhaps a rod
| from 1t, stood the engine of local ac-
commodation train, splitting and kissing
ready to leave as soon as the California
| express should draw out Mrs. Watrous
was still close to the car when the fast
train came in. passed her, and then was
switcl ed on to.the rail aud coupled on to
the waiting car, she was holding Mary's
hand when the two met, and the Jar
disturbed her; she started and almost
fell.
ooh, Mother do be careful" were
Mary's last words, as she let go the cling
ing fingers and gave long, last look at
/ the dear face, streaming with tears.
In another instant, Just as she had re-
placed Molly on the seat and shut the
window, she heard a scream outside
She sprang up and saw through the
door, near which she was seated, her
mother, lying PROSTATE on the track and
the other engine coming from the sta
tion, though slowly The express train
on leaving this station at once took a
curve to the south, so all that Mary saw
was a part of her mothers body, in that
unmistakable cloak. and two or three
men running toward the track; but she
saw enough. She dropped in a dead
faint, hit her head against the corner of
a seat, and lay insensible for hours Molly
screaming at the top of her voice. and al